Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-01
The ERA OF SLANG,
Expressions WhiehlsaBd the Creeps Up
aPuris''s Bsek-W0rds for
Which Nc Possible
Excuse Can be one -ed-Even the Fair Sex
Have Caught the Infs otion.
Not Beautifying
Observer in Philadelphia Call.

observer IN BnlI6Q6lpAld JAIL
The era of slang is upon us with a
breadth that is almost appalling. Not
wholly the slang that might be defined Is
the burlesque or colIoqalal form of ex-
preston, the language of low humor, OF
the iargon Of thieves and Migrants, but 5
species that is almost as reprehensible
1t will not do to apologize for it by saying
that "slAng is probably as old as human
SPEECH" and that the early writer's in
dulged in it, especially the Greek snd
Rumon drSmatists; and while we may
speak and write against the pernicious
habit, We suspect that we will not grow
Disguised enough with it 10 thoroughly
uproot 1t until it has reached its climax
The worst fact about it is that 1t is not
confined to the low and the illiterate, buf
has invaded the pu bic schools, cultured
society and the literature of our books
We admit that some of the slang express
sions are forcIble and full of adequate
ness, among which 1 might name "fred
out" Colossal cheeK," etc. Still, even
they ought to be tabooed.
But what excuse can possibly be offered
for such words es "gsloot," "sardine,''
"chump," "kicker," skid" etc2 Or
such expressions as "Let her go, Gala
gher," "Wsl'zed off on his
ear" 81 should snicker," "Now
you're shoutin'," etc. They are
scarcely emDhEtic and certainly
not polite. Even the fair ST. have caught
the infection and speak acout his "roYal
nibs," or the 'howling swell )" the girl of
to-day is ready to "oet her bottom dol
lsr," wants to know "what you're glvin'
her." lets you know that you are "off
your base" and insists that you shall
"come or" "vamsse," "skedsddle,"
"a5squstulate," and ell tina. You do
her slight favor and she exclsims, "Oh.
thanks, swfully!" Why she should
thank you with "reverend fear" is BE-
yond your comprehension. AK her to
sing your favorite sentimental ballad znd
she will probably say, "On, really, Mr.
--, 1 cawn't. It's too utterly, too
tool"
WASTED SYMPATHY.
While playing lawn tennis with her she
suddenly cries out, "Oh, you've given me
such g twistu" You feel exceedingly
alarmed; you are sfraid that her collar
bone is broken or that at least her wrist
has been disloc6ted. You discover, how
ever that it is but tennis slang and that
your sympathy has been wasted. She
confidently tells you that Jennie Some
body is ono good" and had the "cheek''
to propose TO "stretch" her at the meet
ing of the CLUB because she hadn't
'fforked over'i the "spOndoolicks" for
the last quarter. Al that is TO be depre-
Gated, but the girls, heaven bless them,
look 50 pretty and use the terms so art
lessly that haven't the heart TO be Sc
we're in my reprCof.
It isn't pleasant to be acCOsted by ones
FIVE yesr-old hopeful as Gan Did suoCz-r'
or to know that ne is lying in wait TO
"knock the stuffi1'" out of a neighbours
boy, or to "wIpe up the floor" with him
Or to hesr our short-skirted hut high
spirited daughter tell the aforesaid broth
er that she wishes the other boy would
"paste him on the snOor," Or "knock him
cieSa out the box" or "Into the middle OF
next week" dome know tnat 1 am es
p cially sensitive, and yet | must say that
such expressions send the creeps up my
back.
The editor "swings nasty qutll;" the
hired girl is spot rastler;" when q
thing suits Us it's 'just the cheese"
when too noisy We are told to
Jury up, OF W 'SuSpGuu5 HuOu
cunninsIy on the alert We say, ''not if
the court knows ITSELF" If one day
is not available "s'mOther one" is;
when we die we "psss in our checks"
are 'pu5 away on ice," and are fAslly
"planted +" So nigh. 60 on ad infnItum.
You can think, am sure, of at least q
hundred words and pnr5seS to which I
hsVe made no reference. For inventing
cute words and phrases our country leads
the procession. They are clever and ap-
ct into the topical song, the
public "catch on" and they live and
thrive, snd in many instances the die.
tionsrE fnAily leglnm Zes them.
Slang, Insist, is the fungus on the
stem. it is not the grated fruit. It is
the scum Of language. It often belittles;
it never beauties. If We all spoke ana
wrote in less exaggerated manner, we
would be l. SIS eXagge rated in our wsyssof
life and thought. Life, as well as speech,
would perhaps grow more simple, more
true, more worth lIviog.